UNIONVILLE, Mo. - Putnam County head coach Jamie Tipton said as a basketball game progresses, the hope is to find what’s working and go with it.

Putnam County found it midway through the fourth quarter Friday night against Clark County in the PC Border War Tournament. They went with it and it took a close contest and turned it into a lopsided victory.

Deion Hunt scored 19 points, Cory Lewis had 17 points and Trey Ream added 13 points as the Midgets turned in a 68-53 win over Clark County, improving to 4-0 on the season.

Putnam County led 52-49 with a little more than five minutes left in regulation before hitting another gear and scoring 16 of the game’s final 20 points.

“We were getting the ball to Lewis, and he had the opportunity to drive in, and if that wasn’t there he was able to get it into Deion,” Tipton said. “I’m proud of the boys. They did the things they needed to do to win the ball game.”

Cody Quint doubled that three-point lead with a trey to make it 55-49, and Lewis followed with a jumper that made it an eight-point game.

Ready to inbound the ball, Tipton called timeout as Clark County put on a full-court press. Out of the break, the Midgets used a series of quick passes to shatter the press and get the ball to Ream, who buried a three that essentially buried Clark County.

“We came out, got the ball in, got it to our big guy, Deion, in the middle the, the best way to break the press. He looked over, saw me, I got it, went to drive in and but I decided, hey, a three wouldn’t be bad. I stepped back, shot it, luck fell my way and I made it,” Ream said.

Lewis credited the efforts of younger players, such as Jacob Parker, who contributed nine points to the win.

“He has been outstanding for us this year,” Lewis said. “Man, we’ve got the talent this year. It’s unbelievable.”

Dylan Harper led Clark County with 14 points.

Putnam played much of the second quarter and part of the third quarter without Hunt, who was hampered by foul trouble. Still, the Midgets were able to maintain a lead during that time.

“It’s always going to take away from what you’re wanting to do because he’s a key part of our offense, but the guys we brought in off the bench did a great job,” Tipton said. “When your best offensive player is sitting on the bench and you’re able to stay with a team as quality as Clark County, that’s saying something about the guys you have in there battling. They stepped up and did what they needed to do.”